Wife saddled with ride through 'hell'

By LOUISA CLEAVE

The wife of a high-profile jockey who used methamphetamine says the system let him and the family down when he wanted to kick the habit.

Kim Allan said she went through hell helping 1988 Melbourne Cup winning rider Tony Allan go through the detox process in June.

The couple had separated, but she set out to find him help after learning that the only immediate assistance available was a $1000-a-day private clinic.

The Allans were told they would have to wait 10 days for an assessment at their local branch of the Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS).

Ms Allan approached other drug and alcohol treatment centres and was told there would be a three-week wait for an assessment.

She said there was a lack of information available and some centres said they could not deal with her - Mr Allan would have to ring himself.

"You've got to get them in the first couple of days that they're willing to try and get help, when they're feeling terrible and the demons are there.

"After that they don't think they have a problem any more. They think they're in control," she said.

Mr Allan had been using P for 18 months and his behaviour changed in that time.

"People that don't know a lot about it think they would know someone was on P because they change into a raving lunatic. But it takes a long time to get to that stage. Someone can be on it and you might not know."

Mr Allan was assessed by CADS as a heavy user and his detox programme consisted of a one-hour, weekly appointment with a counsellor.

"I can't see what one hour a week does [in the detox process]," Ms Allen said. "I had to stay home and police him, vet the phone calls."

The process was "horrendous".

"He would be pacing around the house. He would be positive. An hour later he would say 'you've set me up', 'you're working against me'. Then he'd see you're doing the right thing. His line of thought would change so quickly."

Mr Allan spent two months recovering at home and going to weekly counselling at CADS. Ms Allan also had counselling to help deal with the process.

She is confident Mr Allan will stay clean because his profession has given him one last chance.

He has returned to racing and publicly discussed his battle with P.

A woman concerned about members of her family involved with the drug contacted the Herald to highlight a lack of "practical advice" for families.

Two nieces and two nephews, all in their 30s, had used or were using P.

"My sister cannot face dealing with the issues. It's too painful and frightening for her, which leaves me and my other niece feeling out on a limb as to how we can help."

According to the Government's 19-point plan to combat the drug, "treatment for methamphetamine use or addiction problems is not well-developed" in New Zealand.

"There are few treatment services or mental health services aimed specifically at those with methamphetamine use and dependence issues," it says, " ... mainly because the numbers presenting for treatment are still low and most present as poly-substance users."

The plan also says more research is needed and better information gathering - from gangs to hospital admissions - is being developed.

Massey University researchers are studying the socio-economic impact of the increased use of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), with a special focus on methamphetamine, but the results are not expected until March.

Tom Drummond, of the Hanmer Clinic, an Auckland outpatient treatment centre, said a typical P user would have no tolerance for waiting weeks to enter treatment programmes.

The Government had moved away from residential programmes to brief intervention, "low-cost outpatient services", but one size did not fit all.

CADS regional manager Jenny Wolf said a service relaunch next month, with a new brand and logo, would make it easier for people seeking help, providing "walk-in" clinics daily between 10am and 1pm with the aim of assessing people immediately.

National's justice spokesman, Tony Ryall, has called on the Government to do more to "warn and inform New Zealanders" about P.

People wanted to know more.

A recent public meeting in Papakura on P had drawn a crowd of 700, he said.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said the Government had provided more money for police and customs and reclassified methamphetamine as a class A drug.

Herald Feature: The P epidemic

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